Thunder Journal
DENVER — It’s been a shooting struggle for
Patrick Patterson and Alex Abrines. Thunder coach
Billy Donovan still wants shots going up.
Entering Friday in Denver, aside from a 3-point explosion against Atlanta, Patterson and Abrines have been in a major shooting slump in their last 10 games. The duo went 10-of19 against the Hawks, but is 3-of-38 in the other nine games.
“Keep shooting. Keep shooting,” Donovan said. “Because he (Patterson) is getting good looks. Throughout his career he’s been a good 3-point shooter if he’s taking the right ones. I have confidence and belief that that’s a good shot for him, and I want him taking that.
“He did get on a little bit of a run there a few games back where he was shooting the ball pretty well. Here lately, he hasn’t. Neither has Alex.
“We need those guys to shoot. That’s what they do. That’s what they’re good at. And I’m confident and hopeful they’ll get better at it.”
Patterson broke his 3-point scoreless streak with a corner 3 in the second quarter ... which was quickly erased by a Nuggets 3 in transition.
Adams action
Steven Adams had 17 points and nine rebounds in an active first half, all 17 of his points coming in the first quarter.
Adams briefly went back to the locker room to tape a cut on his right hand, but it didn’t seem to affect his play.
One effect of Adams’ aggression was physicality. Adams was hacked on one possession in the second quarter, but whistles went quiet, leading an irate Donovan to pick up a technical foul. Donovan is tied for the league lead among coaches with four techs this season.
Dec. 15 a key date
The NBA’s floodgates are about to open.
Dec. 15 is the first day that most players who were signed as free agents are eligible to be traded. Per NBA rules, barring specific stipulations, Dec. 15 is the date you will see activity begin across the NBA. Other players have contract stipulations which keep their trade date until Jan. 15.
Among the players who signed with the Thunder this offseason who are now eligible for a trade are
Nerlens Noel. Paul George and Jerami Grant are Jan. 15 eligible.
Westbrook meets former First Lady
Last off the team bus, Russell Westbrook walked into the Pepsi Center for shootaround Friday holding a copy of Michelle Obama’s new book “Becoming.” It was a special morning for Westbrook.
The Thunder guard had the privilege of meeting the former First Lady in Denver in the lobby of the Four Seasons, the team hotel. Obama was in Denver for a book signing event.
Westbrook posted a photo of the meeting on his Instagram with the caption “It was insane running into @michellobama. She has been such an inspiration to my family, and I can’t wait to read her new book ‘Becoming.’ #1stlady.”
“It wasn’t my first time meeting her,” Westbrook said. “But it was great, great meeting her (again). It was good.”